Posts by michael vieira

Travel season was certainly a whirlwind this year. In just 39 days, I had the opportunity to meet with fantastic students, families and schools in 15 different cities and 11 different countries. While travel was fantastic and I feel unbelievably fortunate to have been able to have met so many wonderful people and see so many beautiful places, it is great to be back home in Rhode Island, and to return to the beautiful Roger Williams University campus to begin to work with the students and families I met with across the globe as they begin their application process and take the first steps towards becoming an RWU Hawk!

My travels took me to the northern, southern, eastern and western hemispheres and during my trip to Ecuador my travels took me to both the Northern and Southern hemispheres at the same time as I had the opportunity to stand on the equator and even to test the power of the earth’s rotation with a few science experiments. In Singapore, I was able to experience reverse bungee jumping in Clark Quay, a ride I agreed to go on before learning that it not only shot up but also spun on the way back down, and in Malaysia I was able to experience the Batu Caves where we were able to take in the beautiful scenery, while getting so close to wild monkeys that we were warned to tuck in any loose personal items as monkey muggings were a real concern.

But more than the amazing places I am able to visit, what truly stands out from my travels every fall and spring are the people I meet. The most memorable things to me are always the experiences I am able to have with people who are warm enough to go out of their way to share their cultures with me. Unforgettable to me is the English teacher in Shanghai, China who took me to the Bund and helped me experience a little bit of the Mid-Autumn festival, and the family of one of our current students in Panama who opened up their home to me for a truly lovely dinner, complete with some of the best ceviche I have ever had, or the Japanese ambassador interested in our programs who shared a traditional Japanese meal with me.

Hong Kong Harbor view from the Victoria Shanghai Academy

Beijing, China. In front of the Birds Nest from the 2008 Olympic Games

Each of the over 50 schools I visited and the hundreds of students and families I met were distinctive, as each had their own reason for wanting to make Roger Williams University their home, whether it was one of our 43 academic majors that they had previously researched, our beautiful oceanfront campus they had seen or visited, or one of our many clubs, organizations and athletic teams from equestrian and tennis to sailing and soccer. So I want to take the time to say thank you to everybody that helped to make my trip what it was! But the most rewarding part of travel season is still yet to come and that is when I am able to see the students and families I have met on the road again, only this time right here at RWU!

Here at Roger Williams University, Graduation for the class of 2012 is fast approaching and to all of the graduating seniors, I can say without hesitation that the message I’ve heard repeatedly from all offices on campus is that you will be missed. To all of the seniors that I have come in contact with and especially those that have worked here in the admission office, it is truly sad to see you go but I know you will all continue to do great things after graduation. It is important to me to note that I said “after graduation” and not “in the real world” because that is an expression that has always bothered me, when people refer to graduating as entering the “real world”. I assure you that as you move forward in life nothing will be more “real” than the friends, contacts, experiences and lessons that you have accumulated throughout your college years, both inside and outside of the classroom.
With that in mind, my advice to the graduating class of 2012 is stay in touch. It will seem easy at first and grow harder over time but it is a pursuit that is well worth the effort. Put aside time during your week to call or text friends, to hear their stories and catch up on what is happening in each other’s lives. Write thank you letters and email updates to the university faculty and staff who have worked with you and who will continue to work with you as job references and advisors for the decisions that lie ahead. Don’t let yourself lose touch as you move forward, because the network you have built during your college years will be instrumental in your life both personally and professionally, and have an impact on the amazing places I am sure you will all go. In the wise words of Dr. Seuss:
“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

It has been a busy Spring in International Admission both in and out of the office. From April 8th-April 18th travel took me to Asia on behalf of the University with great school visits, counselor meetings and meetings with families and students across China and Hong Kong. From Beijing to Tianjin I had my first trip aboard the high speed trains in China. In Shanghai I had a night off to visit the Bund and look out on one of my favorite skylines in the world and in Hong Kong I was able to celebrate my birthday by walking around the Stanley Market and visiting the Hong Kong Maritime museum. And while the sights and modes of transportation changed city to city, one thing remained the same, truly wonderful students who were hoping to make Roger Williams University their home away from home! Below you can see a picture of me with just a few of the great students I was able to meet, answering questions at the High School attached to Capitol Normal University in Beijing following my presentation on how to choose a school in the United States and RWU.

Upon returning to the office things didn’t slow down but rather they got even busier as we started to find out who would be joining us at Roger Williams University for the Fall class of 2012 and it is shaping up to be an extremely diverse class of students. We currently have students coming to us from over 20 different countries around the world with more still coming! There is a lot more still to come this Spring but I am already looking forward to International Orientation in August, to meet the students that I have gotten to work with through the application process and to see again the students and families that I have met on the road or through campus visits. If you have any questions regarding International Admission then don’t hesitate to contact me directly at MVieira@rwu.edu.

Answering questions at the High School attached to Capitol Normal University in Beijing

Posted by michael vieira on Mar 14, 2012 in Blog | Comments Off on International Admission Hits the Road!

Reading season is well under way here at Roger Williams University and has been great so far! International admission has been very busy reading applications and essays from our largest and most competitive International applicant pool ever! There are many applications still to review but March 14th (3.14) is more than just Pi day, we have also reached the beginning of spring travel season! Here in International Admission spring travel season means our International travel team is hitting the road and spreading out across the globe to meet accepted and prospective students and their families. Many of our International Applicants have been able to make their way to campus and we look forward to meeting many more either during spring travel or at International Student Orientation this August!

Today Senior Vice President, Lynn Fawthrop is flying to Bermuda and later this week will be traveling to the Dominican Republic. She is excited to be meeting with accepted students and their families, as well prospective students, current students and their families, guidance counselors, and of course some of our wonderful alumni from both the Dominican Republic and Bermuda! Also flying out today is Regional Representative, Carol Easton who will be traveling to both Panama and Ecuador to meet with some of our fantastic applicants from that region.

Next out the door is our Director of Admission, Wesley Roy who will be traveling to Qatar and Turkey where he will be presenting on higher education in the United States and meeting with counselors, students and families. Last and I hope not least I will be heading out in the beginning of April to travel in Asia. I am looking forward to meeting with students, families and guidance counselors during my travel as well. It will be great to put faces to some of the wonderful students I have gotten to know through their applications, essays and email correspondence, some of the students who will comprise the next class of RWU Hawks! For more information on where to find us this spring you can always visit our Facebook page at Roger Williams University International Admission . In addition if we are unable to meet with you this spring or if you have any questions regarding your application or life at RWU you can always ask me via email at MVieira@rwu.edu or email me to set up a Skype conference!

Posted by michael vieira on Jan 26, 2012 in Blog | Comments Off on Welcome Spring Class of 2012!

It has been a great couple of days going through Orientation with the new students from the Spring Class of 2012 and getting the opportunity to welcome them to the Roger Williams University community. It has meant some long days but it has been extremely rewarding to meet and greet the students we have been working with for the past weeks and months.
New student Orientation is a reminder of why we do all the work we do, a chance to see the fantastic new students that are now joining our campus. I have some great memories from this Orientation session, from meals shared with some of our new students to talking over new students’ first class schedules with them. Orientation is also a reminder of how many wonderful people work on this campus, as it requires faculty and staff from many offices and departments across our campus to be in one place at one time. It is a fitting reminder that RWU is truly a campus community.
So to all of our new students congratulations and best of luck for a happy and successful semester. I am sure you will love your time here! And to all of our returning students welcome back to campus!